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Kansas City, Kansas
Get PDFKANSAS CITY, KANSAS is a thesis that operates in the tradition of expressionist dramaturgy and playwriting, taking up themes of abuse, imperialism, war, trauma, womanhood, Balkan identities, history of the Balkans, as well as the discourses of psychoanalysis and postcolonial theory. The use of different theoretical frameworks related to both international and personal politics, which are shown to be intertwined, suggests a strong relationship between political processes in the Second World Countries that had experienced many occupations throughout their history and the way women in those countries relate to the questions of body, authority, feminity, and interpersonal relationships. The play ultimately aims to establish the deep connection between two entities–personal and political–and to present politics through individual feelings and bodies; it seeks to point out the destitution of identity that follows the destitution of the country and the destitution of the country that follows destitution of national identity under the forces of colonial oppression.
Advisors: Stephen Buhler and Timothy Schaffer
Epidemiological Inferences of the Impacts of Winter Ticks on Moose Health
Get PDFThe North American Moose (mooz in Anishinaabemowin, Ojibwe language, Alces alces), a culturally significant subsistence species for the Anishinaabe people, faces population decline due to calf predation, pathogen transmission, and parasitism by the winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus), all exacerbated by climate change. This study explores the impact of winter tick infestations on moose health, with a focus on natural mineral seeps as potential transmission hotspots in moose habitats within the Grand Portage Indian Reservation (Gichi Onigaming), on Isle Royale National Park (Minong), and within the 1854 Ceded Territory (greater northeastern Minnesota) - ancestral and present homelands of the Anishinaabe people. We investigate the effects of decreasing snow depth on winter tick survival and assess the potential of D. albipictus to transmit zoonotic pathogens. Through larval tick surveys and pathogen testing, we found winter tick populations concentrated around mineral licks and associated game trails in certain years, with snow depth playing a variable role in tick abundance, alongside other biotic factors. Pathogen screening revealed that D. albipictus is not a competent vector for common zoonotic pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma spp. These findings illustrate the importance of targeted habitat management and monitoring programs to protect moose populations from the growing threat of winter tick infestations.
Advisor: Tom Weisslin
Exploring the Nexus of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Illicit Substance Misuse among Midwestern Adults
Get PDFThe positive association between illicit substance misuse and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has been widely examined in prior literature. Yet, there is limited understanding of the varying factors, such as social support, depressive symptoms, or sexual victimization, that may impact the relationship between substance misuse and ACEs. As such, the purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship between ACEs (i.e., physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect) with illicit substance misuse and to investigate indirect pathways of social support, depressive symptoms, and sexual victimization. Private, secondary data from the second cohort of a larger, longitudinal rural health cohort (RHC) study of Midwestern adults who use drugs (n = 650) was utilized. Results revealed that ACEs were common among this sample, with slightly more than 78% disclosing the experience of at least one type of physical and emotional abuse, nearly 75% reporting at least one type of neglect, and roughly 40% disclosing at least one type of sexual abuse before the age of 18. In terms of ACEs, results show those with more types of ACEs exposure experience greater depressive symptoms and more sexual victimization than those with fewer types of ACEs. Further, those with greater depressive symptoms and more sexual victimization utilize a greater number of different illicit substances. Although males have fewer sexual victimization experiences than females, they report using a greater number of illicit substances than females. Study results demonstrate the critical need for targeted interventions and support services for individuals with a history of childhood trauma who also present with illicit substance misuse. Continued research in this field may provide valuable insights for public health policies, address health inequalities, and aid in the development or tailoring of treatments.
Advisor: Kimberly A. Tyle
\u3cem\u3eCholeramusik\u3c/em\u3e: A Conductor\u27s Guide to Fanny Hensel’s \u3cem\u3eOratorium Nach Bildern der Bibel\u3c/em\u3e
Get PDFFanny Hensel composed Choleramusik in 1831, following the height of the cholera epidemic in Berlin. Hensel’s most ambitious work in size and scoring, this cantata was performed as part of her Sonntagsmusiken series in December of 1831 and remained undiscovered in the Mendelssohn family archives until 1984. Scored for four soloists, mixed chorus with eight-part divisi, and orchestra, this lesser-known cantata is of comparable compositional quality to larger psalm cantatas from the same era by Anton Bruckner and Felix Mendelssohn. This cantata can be performed with smaller orchestral forces—just two wind players per part and minimal percussion in addition to strings— and at 30–35 minutes in length has the potential to occupy a portion of concert programs for many community and collegiate programs in addition to professional ensembles.This document gathers the resources a choral conductor needs when preparing to perform Choleramusik. These resources include a history of Fanny Hensel’s life and education including the cantata’s genesis, a comparison of this cantata to two others composed by Hensel in the same year, and analyses of the work’s structure and musical elements. The document also examines the required performing forces, the Neo-Baroque influences found throughout, and programming considerations. Appendices are devoted to the analysis of the two additional movements added by Mascha Blankenburg for the premiere performance in 1984 and the 2012 published score by Furore Verlag; an English translation of the text along with text sources; and a history of recordings and performances of this work to date.The purposes of this document are to increase understanding of Fanny Hensel’s life and education and to raise awareness of Choleramusik. By highlighting the characteristics of this cantata and providing conductor considerations for its performance and programming, I hope to encourage more conductors, choruses, and orchestras to undertake its performance.Advisor: Peter A. Eklun
Adorning Harmony: Comparing Three of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Transcriptions with the Original Works
Get PDFSergei Rachmaninoff’s piano transcriptions represent an underperformed genre among his works. They offer a unique perspective on Rachmaninoff’s compositional language because they directly compare to other composer’s original works. Much research is dedicated to understanding Rachmaninoff’s harmonic language through analysis of his own original works. However, very little has been written on Rachmaninoff’s piano transcriptions, and no studies focus on Rachmaninoff’s harmonic language displayed in the transcriptions.The following analysis aims to reconsider three of these lesser-known works and provide context for their placement alongside Rachmaninoff’s other compositions. Harmonic analysis provides insights relative to the original works within the larger framework of Rachmaninoff’s harmonic language. I will draw connections to Rachmaninoff’s other compositions and demonstrate the specific harmonic tendencies Rachmaninoff used. Through my analysis of three selected transcriptions, I aim to highlight this repertoire for further performances and cultivate a deeper understanding of Rachmaninoff’s harmonic language.Advisor: Paul Barne
Using Permutation Groups to Identify Family of Capacity Achieving Codes
Get PDFWhen communicating over a noisy channel, the probability of message interference sets a maximum possible transmission rate known as the channel capacity. Any family of codes which have rates converging to the channel capacity and arbitrarily low probability of decoding failure is called capacity achieving. Such codes have been known to exist since the birth of information theory but are difficult to find explicitly. It has recently been shown that the permutation groups of a family of codes can be used to show that the family is capacity achieving on the q-ary erasure channel.This this thesis seeks to apply the permutation results to specific families of codes to find and classify new families of capacity achieving codes. In particular, we focus on methods of combining existing component codes to obtain new capacity achieving codes. Chapters 1 and 2 deal with the necessary background information for the research. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with product codes and half-product codes, first in two dimensions and then in higher dimensions. Chapter 5 focuses on an attempt to re-purpose the original low density parity code construction to be a deterministic capacity achieving family. Chapter 6 deals with cyclic codes and develops a simplified method of obtaining capacity achieving codes in the cyclic case.Advisor: Christine Kelle
Exploring the Dynamics and Outcomes of Family Engagement in Child Welfare Services: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach
Get PDFBackground: Engaging families effectively in child welfare services remains a persistent challenge, shaped by complex interactions between agency practices and family circumstances. While existing research has explored this issue, it has predominantly relied on data from agency and caseworker perspectives, often overlooking the crucial viewpoint of the families. Objectives: This study investigates families’ subjective experiences and perceptions within the child welfare system, focusing on their satisfaction with child welfare workers and overall engagement. Methods: The study draws on data collected through an evaluation of the implementation of Alternative Response in a Midwestern state. Agency administrative data is integrated with additional data obtained from family and worker surveys. The study examines the effects of perceived worker interaction style and the time spent in direct contact on family engagement, satisfaction, and re-referral rates through a Structural Equation Model (SEM). Results: The SEM analysis identified significant correlations between family engagement, satisfaction, worker interaction style, and time spent in direct contact with the family. The findings demonstrate that empathetic and communicative worker interactions (Coef. = 2.02, p \u3c 0.001) and increased direct contact (Coef. = 0.60, p \u3c 0.05) are linked to higher family engagement. Family engagement is also a robust predictor of family satisfaction (Coef. = 1.46, p \u3c 0.001). However, family engagement level does not significantly predict the total number of re-referrals. Risk level is positively correlated with the total number of re-referrals, highlighting the importance of risk assessment in child welfare. Participation in the Alternative Response (AR) program is linked to a decrease in the total number of re-referrals. In contrast, the provision of concrete services is associated with an increase in re-referrals. Discussion: The study emphasizes the importance for child welfare agencies to enhance worker-family interactions and increase time spent in direct contact to improve family outcomes. While family engagement and satisfaction are essential, factors such as risk level and service provision directly impact re-referral rates. Future research can explore additional adjusted outcomes to better understand factors influencing child welfare engagement and interventions
Taking Care of Our Hearts Together in the Hispanic/Latino Community Fact Sheet
No full textHeart disease is largely preventable, yet many people will likely develop coronary heart disease, the most common form of it. The disease affects millions of Americans
Electronic Information Resources Use And Teaching Effectiveness of Academic Staff Of Selected Universities in Oyo State, Nigeria
Get PDFAccess to relevant information resources play a critical role in fostering learning environment. Prior investigation showed that there is a dearth of research on the use of electronic information resource amongst academic staff in universities. Previous studies also focused on electronic information resource use by students. This study, was therefore carried out to examine electronic information resources use on the perceived teaching effectiveness of the academic staff in the selected universities in Oyo state, Nigeria.
The theory of action and the cognitive-behavioral theory provided the framework for this study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. 1,705 academic staff of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and University of Ibadan (UI) constituted the population of the study. 219 academic staff was drawn out to form the sample size through the multi-stage cluster random sampling technique. The instruments used were the Teaching Effectiveness (α=0.87) and Electronic Information Resource Use (α=0.94) scales. Data were analysed using Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and Multiple regression at a 0.05 level of significance.
The levels of teaching effectiveness (106.01) and use of electronic information resource by academic staff (47.43) are very high using the tests of norm. The most types of electronic information resources used by academic are the internet (̅=3.52), electronic journals (̅=3.43), and e-books (̅=3.39). Frequently used electronic information resources were internet (̅=4.33), E-mail (̅=4.10), and electronic journals (̅=3.88). The prominent purposes of use of electronic information resources were knowledge acquisition (̅=3.56) and professional development (̅=3.49).
From the study, electronic information resources use has a significant relationship with the teaching effectiveness of the academic staff in the selected universities. Academic staff should improve their electronic information resources use in order to ensure improved teaching effectiveness